Homeless man smashed window in order to get locked up

Monday 12 February 2024

A man has admitted smashing a shop window so as to be arrested – and spend the night in a prison cell rather than on the streets.

Christopher Henry Hall (49) openly confessed to breaking the window and was sentenced to two months in prison for the offence of malicious damage.

Hall was also guilty of receiving stolen goods. Some friends had stolen bottles of wine from Morrisons supermarket in La Colomberie two days earlier and had given some to him. He received a one-month sentence for that offence, to run concurrently with the two-month sentence.

Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, told the court that Hall smashed the window at 23:50 on Saturday evening, sat on the steps outside and told the police: “I did it.”

Hall also admitted both crimes under interview and pleaded guilty in court, so Advocate Lucy Marks, defending, said: “He has been very honest and open.”

She said he realised the consequences of his action and added: “He is disgusted by his behaviour. He has instructed me not to put forward a sob story on his behalf.”

But the advocate pointed out that Hall had been staying in a homeless shelter after his most recent release from prison, until a “verbal disagreement” there.

“Rather than causing a fuss he chose to leave,” she said.

He had been sleeping rough since then but she said: “On Saturday the weather was very bad. He made the decision that there was no other option but to commit an offence in order to be offered housing – in prison.”

Passing sentence, Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke told Hall: “I hope you are able to sort out your housing afterwards.”